What is the PPA doing?

[TheDonk]

Okay, I may go off an a Dennis Miller rant here - forgive me in advance.

What the hell is the PPA actually doing? Once again, in Senator D'Amato's latest interview on PokerNews, he gives a 15:54 speech on everything that's wrong with the UIGEA - we already F%^&ing know what's wrong with it - what are they doing about it? For those of you who may not have heard, enforcement of the UIGEA is being postponed until sometime after Sept. 4th when a U.S. District court will make a decision on whether or not the UIGEA is constitutional. A group called iMEGA (The Interactive Entertainment and Gaming Association) has successfully filed for a temporary restraining order against the UIGEA in a case of iMEGA vs U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. So, this tiny little group that nobody has ever heard of is doing something, while once again the PPA is sitting on their hands. Barney Frank has put a bill up to stop the UIGEA, and at least 2 other states have challenged current online gambling/poker laws. What has the PPA done? Every interview with Michael Bolcerek or Senator D'Amato that I've seen or read is the same thing. This is what's wrong, that's what's wrong, we have this many members, we want that many members, this is what we want to do, this is what we're going to do. What have they done? Several months ago the PPA asked people to become representatives for their respective states. People signed up for that, and still nothing has been done. There is an attorney in Washington state, who is suing the state for their own ridiculous laws. He also happens to be the PPA representative in that state. However, he is suing the state as an individual, not under the PPA. It seems to me that whatever it is that the PPA is trying to do, is always too little - too late. Why wasn't it the PPA filing for a restraining order against the UIGEA, instead of this little group called iMEGA? The PPA wants to "build support", we've heard that a thousand times from them. Okay, you have 600,000 members now instead of a million, so....do nothing? BTW, as an interesting sidenote - in the latest interview (yesterday) with Sen, D'Amato, the Senator calls the World Series of Poker the "World Poker Tournament" and later he calls it the "World Tournament of Poker". He also called the PPA the "Poker Players Association". Now, if you're heavily involved in poker as he claims, doesn't "World Series of Poker" or "The World Series", or "WSOP" roll off your tongue? What about a group that YOU RUN? Shouldn't "Poker Players Alliance" roll off his tongue as well. Anyone wonder if the PPA is being run by the right people?

Okay, I let it all out (feel much better now) - anyone have any insight?

"Of course, I could be wrong"

TheDonk

The greatest poker website ever created...or not.

[PPP]

"enforcement of the UIGEA is being postponed until sometime after Sept. 4th"

Where do you get that idea?
iMEGA doesn't even have a court date till September.

[Darko]

Originally Posted by PPP

"enforcement of the UIGEA is being postponed until sometime after Sept. 4th"

Where do you get that idea?
iMEGA doesn't even have a court date till September.

i believe thay have asked for the enforcement to be postponed untill the iMega case has been settled (which would postpone it untill at least sept 4th), but as yet it hasnt been granted (was only filed the other day)

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I think this will be granted and im hopefull that iMega will have the enforcement postponed for a good 6 months in total and even more hopefull they win and uigea gets reversed

And my best scenario is iMega win so uigea gets reversed and franks bill doesnt pass - then it should be like before uigea which will make online poker still too much of a grey area for the big casinos and other companies like sony, microsoft etc enter the market which they all would do if they are allowed to

[TheDonk]

w

[TheDonk]

Sorry about that last post. Anyway, PPP you're right. I read it wrong, my bad. Either way, my point is still valid, what's the PPA doing?

Darko, ditto to everything you said.

[Notspot]

I was just talking about this the other day - quite frankly a group of hippies trying to save a cat sanctuary could have done a better job so far.

I'm in europe, so I don't know what you guys in the USA have been receiving from them, but I've not had one email with a news update, no list of addresses to write to, no list of media contacts to lobby - nothing.

They have a 600,000 strong email list of people interested in making a difference, but they're not utilizing them properly - so sad and frustrating.

[PokerProp]

Sound like a good use of our money to me:

http://www.parttimepoker.com/poker-h...vey-stare.html

[Zilla]

Originally Posted by PokerProp

Sound like a good use of our money to me:

http://www.parttimepoker.com/poker-h...vey-stare.html

Thats gotta be the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

What a waste of money.

[Jeremy]

After further review I have concluded this indeed was a joke. In regards to the PPA though, it would be nice to see the organization ran a bit more professionally with more accountability.

PPA Hires Phil Ivey to Stare at Congressmen

WASHINGTON D.C. - Leading online poker lobbying group The Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) announced today a sharp turn in their lobbying tactics - the hiring of Phil Ivey for the exclusive purpose of staring at Congressmen who are opposed to online poker regulation.

Michael Bolcerek, president of the PPA, explained the decision. "We thought we were on the right track, what with raising money and hiring insiders like (PPA Chairman) Alfonse D'Amato. And, don't get me wrong," Bolcerek continued, "those were all good steps. But then I saw one of those Full Tilt ads where Ivey's just staring you down and I thought, now there's a guy who can make you crap your pants with a single glare."

The PPA's exact strategy is unclear at this point. Some believe Ivey will be stationed outside of individual Congressmen's offices at times when they're likely to be entering and exiting. Others think he'll be asked to appear at hearings where several targeted Congressmen are likely to be in attendance. Regardless of the specific execution, all sources agree that Ivey will do nothing - not talk, not move, not make a sound - just stand (or sit) and stare.

Critics have pointed out that Ivey, as pants-crappingly scary as he may be, is just one man, and therefore can't possibly intimidate every Congressman when the time for doing so is limited - say, on the eve of a major vote. "We've considered that point, and we have a Plan B," said Bolcerek. "We've already gotten in touch with Johnny Chan and arranged for him to dress as he normally does and stand in the proximity of Congressmen that Ivey hasn't reached yet. We figure exposure to Chan's typical sweater should stun them long enough for Ivey to have sufficient time to arrive."

[ResIpsa]

I think it was a joke.